Rangers' Eric Staal: In talks with Wild

Staal, a pending unrestricted free agent, is attracting interest from the Wild, the Star Tribune reports.

Analysis:

Staal's camp has been talking with the Wild ahead of the free-agent signing period opening July 1. "There's mutual interest and consideration that there is a fit with Minnesota," said Staal's agent Rick Curran. "We've had conversation and I would also suggest Eric was extremely impressed." As a four-time NHL All-Star who's won a Stanley Cup (2006), there's bound to be even more teams interested in Staal on the open market, but he is 31 years old and past his prime. He was traded to the Rangers last February after spending more than 11 seasons with the Hurricanes, but struggled to adjust in New York and only ended up with six points in 20 regular-season games -- he also went pointless with a minus-7 rating in the postseason. Staal's asking price is sure to come down after finishing out a seven-year deal with an annual average value of $8.25 million.